Salt Intake Too High

Pass the salt! Or rather, don’t. A new study says that if Americans were to simply cut their salt intake back they could “save billions of dollars in health care costs.” The recommended amount is supposed to be 2,300 mg per day, and Americans get 3,300 mg. The study suggests that if Americans consumed less sodium, eleven million people would not get high blood pressure – which would save on costs for medication, treatments for heart disease, fallout from stroke, and other related issues.

Where does all the salt come from? Surprisingly, the largest amounts come not from our own salt shakes, but from packaged foods and from eating out. Fast food is a big culprit in this. The study advises us to read packages, avoid the higher salted foods when eating out, and of course, exercise.

Image: sxc.hu.